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Post by ShortieSensei on Apr 15, 2013 12:59:22 GMT -5
Alright guys, so I've been debating on this for a while and I figured the only real way to solve this is to get opinions from the people who lived it.
I will be volunteering which means I need to be at the Farm on the Tuesday before Bonnaroo. I don't have a tent. For a while there, I figured it was essential to the camping experience of Bonnaroo. Then I did research and saw that a lot of people suggested to have an ez-up for shade and what not. Also heard that it's so much hotter to sleep in a tent.
Now, my question is, does it sound like a plausible idea to purchase an ez-up, tarps for shade & privacy & a cot to sleep and just forget about the tent all together?
Could you borrow a tent from someone? Or buy a cheaper one from Walmart or such? Personally, I would feel better having one just in case you find you don't like just sleeping under the EZ-Up with tarps/sheets. Also, it might be a nice place to stash/store things. That's just me though.
Storing valuables seems like the only real issue, which if you're by your car won't be an issue (I have no idea how volunteer camping works). That and rain, but you wouldn't be on the wet ground, and if you put up walls it shouldn't be much of a problem.
That being said, I slept in a tent last year, underneath an EZ-up, with a tarp to the east, and I couldn't sleep very late at all. 2 of us would get up every morning, move out of the tent, and move out the chairs underneath another EZ-up and sleep in some beach chairs for another hour or so. So this year, myself and the other guy are sleeping on cots underneath an EZ-up with tarps/tapestries for walls. I am looking forward to it.
Could you borrow a tent from someone? Or buy a cheaper one from Walmart or such? Personally, I would feel better having one just in case you find you don't like just sleeping under the EZ-Up with tarps/sheets. Also, it might be a nice place to stash/store things. That's just me though.
Yeah, I could definitely buy one (specifically looking at the Coleman 4 person dome) but I was just wondering if it would be necessary. I want to make my sleeping/living arrangments as comfortable as I possibly can considering I'll be there for about a week.
Thanks for your opinion! I'll definitely keep it in mind when deciding!
Storing valuables seems like the only real issue, which if you're by your car won't be an issue (I have no idea how volunteer camping works). That and rain, but you wouldn't be on the wet ground, and if you put up walls it shouldn't be much of a problem.
That being said, I slept in a tent last year, underneath an EZ-up, with a tarp to the east, and I couldn't sleep very late at all. 2 of us would get up every morning, move out of the tent, and move out the chairs underneath another EZ-up and sleep in some beach chairs for another hour or so. So this year, myself and the other guy are sleeping on cots underneath an EZ-up with tarps/tapestries for walls. I am looking forward to it.
I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one considering this idea! lol Thanks for the input! Are you going to be laying down a tarp for your floor? Volunteer camping is the same as GA, we're just located in another area of the farm but I still get to have my car with me.
Storing valuables seems like the only real issue, which if you're by your car won't be an issue (I have no idea how volunteer camping works). That and rain, but you wouldn't be on the wet ground, and if you put up walls it shouldn't be much of a problem.
That being said, I slept in a tent last year, underneath an EZ-up, with a tarp to the east, and I couldn't sleep very late at all. 2 of us would get up every morning, move out of the tent, and move out the chairs underneath another EZ-up and sleep in some beach chairs for another hour or so. So this year, myself and the other guy are sleeping on cots underneath an EZ-up with tarps/tapestries for walls. I am looking forward to it.
I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one considering this idea! lol Thanks for the input! Are you going to be laying down a tarp for your floor? Volunteer camping is the same as GA, we're just located in another area of the farm but I still get to have my car with me.
Honestly we haven't really talked about a floor. I feel like a tarp would just get really dirty and it will hold any water that might manage to fly in. Maybe some sort of outdoor carpet or something, I really don't know.
Alright guys, so I've been debating on this for a while and I figured the only real way to solve this is to get opinions from the people who lived it.
I will be volunteering which means I need to be at the Farm on the Tuesday before Bonnaroo. I don't have a tent. For a while there, I figured it was essential to the camping experience of Bonnaroo. Then I did research and saw that a lot of people suggested to have an ez-up for shade and what not. Also heard that it's so much hotter to sleep in a tent.
Now, my question is, does it sound like a plausible idea to purchase an ez-up, tarps for shade & privacy & a cot to sleep and just forget about the tent all together?
I would say the only reason you would need a tent is if it rained because then you're only option would be to sleep in a car (which can get pretty miserable)...or if it rained you're welcome to crash in my tent, I will be volunteering too!
ShortieSensei You should know as well that you won't to be as comfy as possible. Unless something drastic has changed -- volunteer camping is quite far from Centeroo.
Post by abrakapokus on Apr 15, 2013 13:59:06 GMT -5
The only reasons I would think you HAVE to have a tent would be if it rains. With just an easy up the rain will come in and your things will get soaked. You may also want a tent to change clothes in.
ShortieSensei You should know as well that you won't to be as comfy as possible. Unless something drastic has changed -- volunteer camping is quite far from Centeroo.
Yeah I was in volunteer camping last year and the walk was pretty gnarly..I'm sure there are worse walks so I can't really complain....I did definitely bring everything I needed into Centeroo when I went in around 11 am, because I didn't wanna make that walk back until I ended up going to sleep at like 4 am.
A tent offers many advantages, such as privacy (changing clothes, storing things you'd rather not leave out in the open but which aren't necessarily valuable enough to require locking in your car), protection from the rain (since you're staying for a full week, it seems highly likely that you will experience a rain or two, and in my experience not everything will always stay dry under an EZ-up), and protection from bugs to a degree. If you can find a tent for a reasonable price, my advice is to bring it just to be on the safe side.
and protection from bugs to a degree. If you can find a tent for a reasonable price, my advice is to bring it just to be on the safe side.
Completely forgot. If you've ever ever left a snack or food outside of your tent coming back drunk ... you will get to know your surrounding ants in a major way
I'm on the pro tent side as well for all the reasons listed above. Definitely ask around to see if anyone has one you can just borrow. You'd be amazed how many people have camping gear in their garage that never gets used.
I did ez up only last year and it worked out great, even in the rain. We had a tarp for the floor, and made sure that the tapestry walls went under the floor tarp, so any rainwater just went under the tarp. It also helped that I slept on a portable hammock so I could keep my stuff dry.
Now, my question is, does it sound like a plausible idea to purchase an ez-up, tarps for shade & privacy & a cot to sleep and just forget about the tent all together?
I'm going with the EZ-up only setup this year with a cot (my Subaru Outback will be a last resort shelter option.)
I've been under an ez-up during a tremendous pouring rain, and found that if you have the headroom to drop the legs down halfway and still sit in a chair, there's a lot less rain blowing in while you endure the worst of it.
When I went looking for a floor option this year, I found this that looks like a good solution! (It's 5'x6.5' -- figure it would be good enough for the center of the floor.)
Ditto. There are either storms that bring strong winds and rain that can soak everything in a matter of minutes or cold fronts that can bring rain for hours. Even a small tent will provide a dry and warm place to get a few hours of sleep. The privacy is also nice when you are changing clothes. Wal-Mart is selling a 4 person tent for 34.97 right now.
Jaz That was exactly the set up that I was looking to have. Did you have any problems with bugs like others have mentioned?
Not that I recall, but it's likely that if I saw them, they just weren't bothering me so they don't stick out in my mind. I would suggest bringing enough tarp to drape over all four walls of the EZ-Up. Even if you don't use it right away, it would definitely help in the case of a storm.
Now, my question is, does it sound like a plausible idea to purchase an ez-up, tarps for shade & privacy & a cot to sleep and just forget about the tent all together?
I'm going with the EZ-up only setup this year with a cot (my Subaru Outback will be a last resort shelter option.)
I've been under an ez-up during a tremendous pouring rain, and found that if you have the headroom to drop the legs down halfway and still sit in a chair, there's a lot less rain blowing in while you endure the worst of it.
When I went looking for a floor option this year, I found this that looks like a good solution! (It's 5'x6.5' -- figure it would be good enough for the center of the floor.)
Good Find! Last year's flooring was a rug provided by one of the Corys we made camp with last year (at least 3 people named Cory, sorry man that I don't remember which one of you brought it but it was awesome and much appreciated!).
Apparently the blue tarps are awful for walls so you might want to avoid those. I've heard people on here say they suck up and radiate the suns heat. I sprung for a sidewall last year, faced the corner of the EZ Up roughly due east and it worked great, not as pretty as tapestries but I consider it +/- $20 well spent.
I'm going with the EZ-up only setup this year with a cot (my Subaru Outback will be a last resort shelter option.)
I've been under an ez-up during a tremendous pouring rain, and found that if you have the headroom to drop the legs down halfway and still sit in a chair, there's a lot less rain blowing in while you endure the worst of it.
When I went looking for a floor option this year, I found this that looks like a good solution! (It's 5'x6.5' -- figure it would be good enough for the center of the floor.)
Good Find! Last year's flooring was a rug provided by one of the Corys we made camp with last year (at least 3 people named Cory, sorry man that I don't remember which one of you brought it but it was awesome and much appreciated!).
Apparently the blue tarps are awful for walls so you might want to avoid those. I've heard people on here say they suck up and radiate the suns heat. I sprung for a sidewall last year, faced the corner of the EZ Up roughly due east and it worked great, not as pretty as tapestries but I consider it +/- $20 well spent.
It was a miracle you made it to tent only lugging that thing around ar 3 in the morning!
Post by memphis1979 on Apr 16, 2013 6:31:41 GMT -5
I'd say its doable. You can buy an ezup with the wind and rain shields. I'm not talking about the semi clear bug netting, this is essentially a ezup with built in tarp walls.
Personally, I'll have a tent, with a lock. I may end up sleeping on my hammock in the ezup, but as a good friend of mine once told me, nothing wrong with more options.
Post by ShortieSensei on Apr 16, 2013 7:24:00 GMT -5
So what I've gathered from all of your helpful advice is that is MAY be possible to survive the week without a tent BUT it's recommended to have one on hand just in case. Guess that now I'm on the search for a quality tent that I don't have to pay enormous amounts for because I don't know anyone that would be willing to let me borrow a tent.
So what I've gathered from all of your helpful advice is that is MAY be possible to survive the week without a tent BUT it's recommended to have one on hand just in case. Guess that now I'm on the search for a quality tent that I don't have to pay enormous amounts for because I don't know anyone that would be willing to let me borrow a tent.
Pretty much. I slept in a tent in 09 and 10. Abra and I slept under the EZ-Up in 11. The difference is pretty immense. The tent is nice to have around for changing but isn't 100% needed for that. That being said, it rained a b*tch Thursday night in 09. Being in a tent was pretty great as my friend who was sleeping under my EZ-Up had to move to the car after it started raining because he was getting soaked, and he said that car got hot as balls really early in the morning. Here's one at Wal-Mart for $35. We have an older version of the same tent and have had no problems from it. You may also want to check the Helping Hands thread whenever it gets started this year as someone on here may have one you could borrow. www.walmart.com/ip/Ozark-Trail-9-x-7-Tent-Sleeps-4/22630912?_mm=
So what I've gathered from all of your helpful advice is that is MAY be possible to survive the week without a tent BUT it's recommended to have one on hand just in case. Guess that now I'm on the search for a quality tent that I don't have to pay enormous amounts for because I don't know anyone that would be willing to let me borrow a tent.
Try just writing in our Volunteering thread and maybe you can meet up with someone at check-in or caravan in with someone who can bring you an extra tent that's in the regular volunteer campground area (so it's easy to return). Otherwise, I'd also take a look at Walmart and probably even Amazon (especially with Amazon Prime for free shipping). I'd use both sites to read reviews, at least.
Post by F me, I quit America on Apr 16, 2013 17:58:47 GMT -5
One more vote for the tent: I slept under the ez up in a cot-like beach chair for all 5 nights in 2011. It was immensely better than sleeping in the tent in 2010, though it wasn't quite as ridiculously hot, and I slept much longer and better. My group had a giant tent with enough space but I never felt the need to go inside. For 2012 I sent up a tent and used it a couple of nights, including when it rained. This year I will try outside in a hammock if it is hot, maybe in the tent for the added darkness if it isn't crazy hot, but I will definitely keep my options open. Never had a bug problem, and I've only seen ants, a few bees last year, and a couple of spiders. It's a major plus in my book that mosquitoes are few to none there.
